Rushing Woman’s Syndrome and The Perception of Stress
“Trust that life happens for you, not to you.”
-Dr. Libby Weaver
I posted last week about the importance of rest and regulating our nervous system. Understanding my nervous system and the impact my lifestyle has on it has been one of the most profound things I’ve done for my health.
I read a book recently called Rushing Woman's Syndrome by Dr. Libby Weaver. Dr. Weaver (Drlibby on instagram) is an Australian biochemist, author, and speaker, and focuses on the profound impact that ‘rushing’ has on women’s health today. Our bodies aren’t used to the demands we are currently putting them through, and without making an extra effort to take care of our nervous system and complete the stress cycle, they simply can’t keep up. How often do we hear about people (or ourselves) relying on caffeine to get through the day and then a glass of wine to wind down at night? Neither of those things alone (and in moderation) are necessarily bad, but the reliance upon them indicates that our bodies need support in other ways.
One thing that made ‘Rushing Woman’s Syndrome’ stick out to me was the way she talks about stress and our perception of stress. We simply can’t avoid stress, especially in today’s society and many of the demands that make up our days. What we can control is how we look at each situation. If stress is coming from work, pivoting to a feeling of gratitude for the ability to provide for ourselves and our families, and understanding that it IS okay to leave a few things on your to-do list for tomorrow. They will get done, and your life does not depend on it being done at this very moment. Our minds are powerful, and how we view stress has a direct impact on the response from our body.
Dr. Libby Weaver goes through the signs of stress overload, or what she calls a ‘rushing woman,’ and outlines clear practices to support our bodies in a world of never ending to-do lists, people pleasing, and a culture of productivity. Without even realizing how much these factors were impacting my day to day, making the smallest adjustments such as minimizing caffeine (and completely cutting it some days), implementing a meditation practice, and changing our perception of stress has been life changing.
This is a must read for all women, especially if you find yourself overwhelmed with the demands each day throws at you. It is likely the underlying cause of so many other symptoms you had no idea were related!